Inflatable ball



Oct. 1257, 1925. l,559,364

y D. O. PEARCE INFLATABLE BALL Filed April 5. 192: 2 sheets-sheer 1' Oct. 27 1925 1,559,364 D. o. PEARCE INFLATABLE BALL Filed April 5. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 atto: muy.

Patented oa. 27, :1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

DEWEY 0. PEABCE, QF BOISE, IDAHO.

j lnumazrluma 13am..

i Application illed April 5, 1923. Serial No. 680,010.

To all whom t may cmwem:

Be it known..that I, DEWEY a citizen 'of the United States, residing at Boise, in theeounty ofvAda and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inflatable Balls,of which the followings aspeciication. v

' This invention relates to an improvement in inflatable balls, and particularly 'to a structure adapted to be embodied in basketballs, foot-balls, striking-bags, and other like inflated balls or bags. An object of my invention is to provide Y an outer casing and an inflatable inner porftion' which are so constructed and associated that the ball is evenly balanced to carry true in its iight when in motion' and in providing a closure portion for the outer casing and an inflating portion for the inner member which are entirely within the outer lines of the ball or bag, and thus leave the outer surface` free of projections.

A further object yresides in so constructing the closure portions and the inflating, portion that these will be entirely covered y the leather or other material of the outer casing and that the parts are thus protected to prevent danger of-breaking the nger nails, scuiiin the knuckles, or injuring the skin or lies ot the face or body of the party using the ball or bag.

Another object lies in'providing a closure and inflating portions which are of such construction that the inflatable portionl can be filled with air without the necessity of loosening'the fastenings of the outer casing,

and that. the outer and inner portions are connected together and are so assembled that the bag or ball will have atrue form at all times when inflated.

With the above and other objects in view, -which will be apparent'to those skilled in the art, m invention includes certain novel features ol construction and combination of parts which will now be set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation looking at the closure side of a foot-ball embodying my invention. y

Fig. 2 is a similar view looking at the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view .through the casingl and the inflatable portion.

O. PEARCE,

Fig. 4 is a detail vsectional view to better show the connection of the 'inflating valve.

Fi 5 is a view in perspective showing the c o'sure hook and eye.

In the present instance, I have shown my invention embodied in conjunction with a regulation form of foot-ball, but it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to spherical balls, and can also be applied in conjunction witli striking bags of the standard pear form orv of anyother shape.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the casin 1 has the usual slit or opening 2 therein t rough which access is had to the interior forvpla'cement and removal of the rubber bladder or other iniatable portion. This slit or opening 2 has the reinforcingmei'nbers or gaskets 3 and 4 secured along the edges thereof, and the usual flap 5 is provided to close the opening on the inner side. hooks 6 are'secured on one side of the slit 2, and an equal number of eye members 7 are' secured in registering relationon the opposite side of the slit. The hooks 6 and eye members 7 are associated with the gasket 3 and 4 insuch a manner that a substantially smooth inner 'surface is presented against'. the. closing Hap 5, Vand the A plurality o to entirely cover the interlocked ends of the hooks and eye members. The hooks 64 and eye members 7 are secured in place by stitching, riveting or other suitable fastenings, and it is referable that the same fastenings be emp oyed to secure `the gaskets v3 and 4 in conjunction with the outer casin 1, as in this vway a ysubstantially integra structure is obtained.I

A rubber or other 'inatable portion 9 is shaped to correspond with the casing 1, and plrovided with a metallic infiatin valve ing 1 is provided with a'valve stem opening 12 at a point diametrically opposite the slit or opening 2, and the reinforclng washers or gaskets 13 and 14 are secured on the inner side of the case around this openaving an extending stem 11. T e casl in These washers or gaskets are prefer- Y ab y of leather or other material which will flex with the casing, and a polygonal/nut 15 is introduced in washer 13 to receivethe stem is preferably v the opemng of the rubber-blad er or iniatable portion 9 by means of a nut 16, and a cap 17 is provided to close the end of the valve stem.

In the use of my improved structure the lacing hooks 6 are disengaged from the eye members 7 and the slit 2 may then be opened to give access to the interior of the casing 1. The bladder 9 is then inserted intothe casing and the valve stem 1l is turned into nut 15 to present the open end thereof With- -in opening 12 of the casing l. The hooks 6 are then caught Within the eyes 7 and the portion 9 is inflated through the valve stein 11, this steln being properly threaded for attachment'of a pump or other air supplying appliance, and as the closing flap 5 is forced outwardly and casing 1 is expanded, the hooks will be firmly held within the eyes. With this construction and arrangement of the parts, it is not necessary to disassemble the two portions of the ball, nor loosen the hooks when the ball is in use, as air can be supplied through the valve stem 11 and the ball can be kept inflated to the proper pressure at all times.

Where my improvements are embodied in a striking bag, it may be found desirable to locate the slit and the valve structures at one end, but in this arrangement care should be taken to locate the valve diametrically opposite the slit to preserve the balance of the bag. Further, it will be appreciated that other changes can be made in the forni and arrangement of the parts to adapt my invention to the particular construction of closing flap carried on the inner side of the casing to close over the slit,and an inflatable portion within the casing.

2. An iniatable ball comprising a casing having a-slit therein, a'plurality of hooks carried by said casing on one side of the slit, a plurality of eye members mounted on the casing on the opposite side of the slit, gasket portions carriedjby the casing on the inner side adjacent the hooks and eye niembers -to present a 'smooth inner surface, a closing flap carried on the inner side of the casing to close over. the slit, an inflatable portion fitted Within the casing through said slit, said casing having an inlating opening at a point diaxnetrically opposite the slit, an inflating valvevstem carried by the inflatable portion, and means associated with the casing to hold said valve stem adjacent the infiating opening of the casin In testimony whereof I a x my signature.

DEWEY O. PEARCE. 

